Greece Welcomed Summer 2011 With Less Blue Flags

Greece ranked second place on the Blue Flag quality award list for 2011.

Greece ranked second place on the Blue Flag quality award list among 41 countries but with 34 beaches short compared to 2010, according to information recently provided by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature.

In Greece, a total of 387 beaches and nine marinas were honored with the quality “Blue Flag” award. (Last year 421 Greek beaches and nine marinas were honored.)

Globally, the organizer Foundation for Environmental Education (based in Denmark) honored 3,012 beaches and 638 marinas worldwide with the international eco-label (blue flags).

According to reports, the reduced number of Greek blue flag beaches this year was due to the fact that fewer applications were submitted due to the mergers of municipalities under the Kalikratis plan.

Thirteen beaches in Attica received blue flags this year, namely Schinias (Karavi), Brexida, Avlaki, Punta Zezas, Anavysos, Lagonisi 1 (Grand Beach), Lagonisi 2 (Mediterraneo), Lagonisi 3 (Kohilia), Varkiza, Asteras Vouliagmenis, Voula (A) and Kakia Lagada of the Kythera Municipality.

The “Blue Flag” is a voluntary eco-label awarded to beaches across the world.